The following season proved this theory further as Jack Wilshere took Denilson’s place in the first team and showed what a 10 year education at Arsenal can provide for a young Englishman. Having been at the club since the age of 9, he became the first player to come through and shine from the academy having only been at the club under Wenger. This showed in his superior technical ability and composure on the ball compared to most other English youngsters. He settled immediately into the first XI and was a key part in Arsenal putting together another strong title challenge and being awarded the man of the match award as Arsenal defeated Barcelona at the Emirates. The most prominent first team throughout the season consisted of players who had en masse been at the club for a total of 48 years. This showed as they all looked completely comfortable in the style of play and had a very good, albeit still trophyless, season.
However, the main and most prominent indication of needing specialist players for this style has come this season as results and performances have dipped. The loss of Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Fabregas along with the long-term injury to Wilshere has meant that new players have needed to be brought into supplement the squad and try and provide experience to the team.
The experienced players such as Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun are all top-quality players and have done well but they have not grown up being taught how to play the ‘Arsenal Way’ and need to learn this style ‘on the job’. This has showed as the team look far less fluid and dangerous when attacking as there isn’t the same movement and guile that previous sides have had. It remains to be seen whether the increased experience will have benefits when it comes to the key end of season run-in but there is no doubt it has stunted the team’s eye-catching and pleasing style of play.
Despite the calls from Arsenal fans and beyond for Wenger to spend money on proven players from other clubs, it isn’t guaranteed this would be beneficial to an Arsenal team in constant transition. If they can get Jack Wilshere back and see other players come through from the academy who have experience in this style of play, it may be more successful for Arsenal as well as completing Arsene Wenger’s youth ‘project’. It could end up being that the ONLY way Arsenal will win trophies is with kids.
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How many trophies has Wenger won since 2006?
This could the season when he will finally realise the game’s up for and Arsenal need to move on.
How many times have Arsenal not being in the Champions League since 2006? Success means different things to different people.
Those who are any good leave for greener pastures. Those who are useless stay or cannot be off loaded. We are just a fodder club. That’s what the youth policy is for: To sell kids for profits. Get yourself a pen and write out a list of Arsenal young players who have been loaned out and sold for profits in the last 10 years. You will see how long the list is.
The policy has not worked. It has meant the sell of any good player with experience and his replacement with a young one. It even appears as though the mature players we get to sign are distinctly average. The club has no shame! All the do is take our cash and furb us off with hard luck stories.
Decent article. I agree. We might not have the quality we want, AW has certainly made mistakes, but the only way we can compete with the financial might of our rivals is with youth. We dont stand a chance in a bidding war.
Liverpool have shown that throwing money at the problem will not fix it. There needs to be a long term solution, and that can only be found in developing our own top class players.
Like I said, we dont have enough quality at the moment, in youth or experience, but I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments of the article.
Your #1 fan. Fucking amazing article mate